36 STATES DRAG FG TO SUPREME COURT OVER COURTS’ FUNDING – PUNCH PG.8, DAILY TRUST PG.4, NATION PG.20, THISDAY PG.5, SUN PG.8

The 36 states of the federation have gone before the Supreme Court to challenge the Presidential Executive Order No. 00-10 of 2020 signed in May by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), on the funding of the courts.

The 36 states, who filed the suit through their respective attorneys general, are seeking an order of the Supreme Court quashing Buhari’s Executive Order for being unconstitutional.

BLASPHEMY: OVERTURN MUSICIAN’S DEATH SENTENCE, UN EXPERTS URGE NIGERIA – PUNCH PG.9

The United Nations human rights experts have called on Nigerian authorities to immediately release a 22-year-old singer, Yahaya Sharif-Aminu, who was sentenced to death over an allegedly blasphemous song shared on social media. The experts made the call on Monday in a joint statement titled: ‘UN rights experts urge Nigeria to overturn death sentence for singer, who shared song on WhatsApp’.

ICPC UNCOVERS MULTI-BILLION NAIRA TSA SCAM – DAILY TRUST PG.5, NATION PG.1&5, PG.6

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on Monday said that it has uncovered a multi-billion naira scam in government ministries, agencies and parastatals. The Chairman of ICPC, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, said this in his keynote address at the Second National Summit on Diminishing Corruption with the theme: “Together Against Corruption and the Launch of the National Ethics and Integrity Policy” held at the Council Chambers of the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

MAGU: OZEKHOME WANTS POLICE BANNED FROM HEADING EFCC – DAILY TRUST PG.26

Constitutional lawyer Mike Ozekhome (SAN) has recommended that serving police officers should not be made head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) over alleged abuse of due process of law in anti-corruption war. Ozekhome appeared on Friday before the Presidential Judicial Commission of Inquiry into allegations of corruption against suspended EFCC chairman, Ibrahim Magu, between 2015 and 2020, which is headed by former president of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami.

NLC, TUC LEADERS UNDER ATTACK FOR SUSPENDING STRIKE – NATION PG.5

They suspended the industrial action in the early hours of on Monday after a marathon meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, with Federal Government officials. The Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) had mobilised their members, Civil Society Organisations and other categories of Nigerians to protest the increase in the price of petrol and the hike in electricity tariffs.

HOW AKPATA IS CALMING NBA’S TROUBLED HOUSE – NATION PG.18

Since its national elections, the NBA has remained troubled, leading to the threat of factionalisation. ERIC IKHILAE examines efforts by the President, Olumide Akpata to return it to the path of peace and unity. AT the moment, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) can be described as a troubled house. Since its last national election, through the inauguration of the incumbent leadership, the NBA has moved from one crisis to another.

WHY UBANI WITHDREW SUIT AGAINST MALAMI – NATION PG.24

Former Second Vice-President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Mr. Monday Onyekachi Ubani, has stated that he withdrew the suit against the Attorney-General of the Federation, Mr. Abubakar Malami (SAN) because of pressure to allow amicable resolution of the issues. Ubani had dragged Malami to court over the alleged “unilateral amendment” of the Rules, even as the NBA President, Mr. Olumide Akpata, directed lawyers to ignore the Rules, saying they were amended without proper authority.

ASSETS RECOVERY: ICPC SEIZES N16B FROM MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE – SUN PG.5

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) say it has recovered N16 billion from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture in 2020. ICPC Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanye disclosed this at the virtual meeting of the second “National Summit on Anti-Corruption in the Public Sector’’.